Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers, already riding high with a 2-0 lead in their series against the Houston Rockets as the show travels to Texas for Friday's Game 3, got a nice boost with the news that Austin Reaves, out with an oblique injury, has been upgraded to Questionable. That doesn't mean he'll play - and with the series lead the Lakers might choose to give him a little more time to heal, even if he could suit up Friday - but just the listing is going to rightly excite Lakers fans. 

Meanwhile, the Rockets are listing Kevin Durant as questionable, this time with an ankle injury. It seems like a long shot that he'd actually sit, but given that he's already nursing a knee injury, anything that limits him further is not great for a struggling Houston team. 

Meanwhile, the Lakers are winning the series in part because they're winning what JJ Redick calls "the little battles." 

"There’s a natural flow to the series where the team that wins can relax a little bit and the team that loses comes out and plays with more desperation. I thought our guys at least matched their sense of desperation. Our second efforts, all that stuff. You’ve got to win a bunch of little fights, that can be your catch position, that can be your screens, that can be creating separation, that can be boxing out. But this team requires you to win a bunch of little fights.”

This is a team that needs to be good at that stuff anyway, but without two stars, they need to be even more attentive, and have been for sure. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: Reaves upgraded, Durant downgraded. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Winning the little battles. 

 

SEGMENT 3: What to watch for in Game 3. 

 

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In a series where the Lakers came in as heavy underdogs, the Lakers now have a 2-0 lead heading into Game 2 in Houston. 

So are they now series favorites? 

A lot goes into that. Are the Lakers playing above their heads right now? Do you think Houston's offense can improve? if so, how much? Insofar as the Lakrs are concerned, it should be heartening to see that, while maybe the shotmaking has been a little elevated, there's little LA is doing that feels unsustainable, and the discipline and confidence with which they're playing seems unlikely to waver, even if Houston takes a game or two. Which they probably will at some point. 

These Lakers are guys who have been in the playoffs, and are less likely to be rattled by them. And it's helpful too to know the Rockets have a clear weakness. In a Round 2 against OKC, maybe you need more luck. But against the Rockets? 

And that Houston D, is it even as good as advertised? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

 

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Before things kicked off in their series against the Houston Rockets, the hosts of this space were confident in one thing: The Lakers would set a bar and make the Rockets clear it to beat them. LA is too resilient and composed to fall apart and fold. 

The expectation, though, was that the Rockets would have enough talent on hand to put down those plucky Lakers in five or six. 

Well... not so far! The Lakers have indeed set an admirably high bar, but the Rockets haven't even come close to coming over it. In fact, Houston has been borderline inept on the offensive end, leaving them down 2-0 heading into Friday's Game 3. So can the Rockets change their fortunes? Are they actually that bad, or is some positive regression inevitable? And what about the Lakers? How much more upside is available to them, particularly on offense? 

The Lakers aren't going to quit setting a standard Houston is going to have to exceed. Do these Rockets have it in them to get it done? 

We break it down with Jackson Gatlin of Locked On Rockets in another postseason crossover episode! 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Jackson Gatlin.

 

SEGMENT 1: Why are the Lakers up 2-0? 

 

SEGMENT 2: Is the Rockets offense really this bad? 

 

SEGMENT 3: What comes next? 

 

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Without question, Rockets center Alperen Şengün has the better pedigree and resume than either Deandre Ayton or Jaxson Hayes. However, over the course of two games between the Lakers and Rockets, the Laker centers have demonstratively outplayed and out-impacted their two-time All-Star counterpart. How is this happening, and why is it so critical to the Lakers' 2-0 series lead?

Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

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We figured Kevin Durant would be back on the floor for the Rockets in Game 2, and we were correct. 

We figured that would mean Houston would crack 100 points... and we were wrong. The Lakers defense frustrated Durant, sending waves of bodies after him throughout the game, and save a red hot first few minutes, was held in check. LA dared anyone else to beat them, and the Rockets simply couldn't do it. Over and over, they smoked easy shots, made dumb plays, and more. Meanwhile, the Lakers found ways to get buckets when they had to. 

LeBron James was outstanding. 28 points, 14 trips to the line, eight rebounds, seven assists. Marcus Smart played his way into Lakers lore, with incredible defense, 25 points, seven dimes and true spiritual leadership. Luke Kennard followed up his 27 points in Game 1 with 23 on Tuesday. 

With the win, the Lakers don't just take real control of the series, they very likely do serious damage to Houston's psyche. The Lakers have 208 points in the series, and are a plus-16. Yes, they've played good, aggressive, attentive defense, but some of this is Houston being a really bad offensive team. And unless they can figure that out, the Rockets aren't going to clear the bar the Lakers are setting for them. 

Another fantastic night for the Lakers, who hold serve and will head to Houston after three days off. 

Still lots of work to be done, but the Lakers are in a position few expected, and have a great chance to pull off an upset in Round 1. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers win Game 2!

SEGMENT 2: Legend-status game from Marcus Smart. 

SEGMENT 3: Houston is a bad, bad, bad offensive team right now. 

 

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Indeed

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Gametime

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FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.

 

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